Is it common to be paid 2 months in arrears?

[iloveithere]

I started a new job in the middle of Jan. Contract said we get paid at the end of the month but if we are not on payroll by 15th we won't get paid. Fair enough, so I expected to get paid for the half of Jan that I worked, and all of Feb, at the end of Feb.
However, got my payslip today and it was only for Jan. I've been told I'll get Febs pay at the end of March etc.
I've never heard of this, always been paid at the end of the month for that actual month. Is this two months in arrears a common thing?

Has been for me, I always assumed it was the norm - Work Jan get paid end of Feb.

Well payroll takes time to run. We get paid the third friday of every month, but it doesnt include the previousweek, and we are a massive global company. Id imagine a smaller / national company would take a loger time.

It's only one month in arrears, not two.

You can't be paid at the end of a month for the month you are in, else how would you be able to be paid for the week/few days preceding pay day?

It's always one pay period behind.

Fair enough, I've just never been paid like that before, and I've worked for small and large companies. I guess that means when you leave you get paid one month after you leave too.

It's perfectly usual to pay at the end of the month for that month where people are salaried and earn the same each month, with any adjustments due to absence in the few days preceding pay day made in the following month's pay.

Where amount vary each month and/or are dependent on time sheets, obviously it's more common to pay two months in arrears.Either is fine.

Just for context, I have lots of small business clients and I think all of them pay one month in arrears, ie at the end of the month for that month. I would expect two months in arrears places to be those who have particularly cumbersome procedures involved in determining pay and authorising it, for example timesheets that need signing off by everyone and his mother. I don't know if that applies to you OP.

On the plus side, it means you'll get paid loads when you leave!

X posts!

Aaah that makes sense, flowery. I've always had the same pay each month, this job is a bit more flexible on hours, (and commision for some staff) so your explanation clears that up.

No, it's not normal.

I would expect to be paid for part of Jan and Feb at the end of Feb. If they were a decent company they would make special arrangements for the two weeks. A lot of people just cannot wait that long to be paid.

What sort of company is this?